The Ultimate Yurt Quiz

You may have read about ancient Central Asian yurts in a grade school history class. But did you know that the unique round dwellings are now growing in popularity around the world? Test your knowledge of yurt engineering, history and culture with this quiz.

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Question 1 of 20

The earliest yurts we've found evidence of are from when?

4th century B.C.

The earliest yurts actually date to ancient times. Yurts can make a claim to being the official dwelling type of Central Asia.

3rd century A.D.

13th century A.D.

Question 2 of 20

The oldest complete yurt, dating to the 13th century, was found where?

in a Mongolian grave

Though evidence exists of yurt use from much earlier, the yurt found in this grave is the oldest one found intact.

in a Chinese cave

in a Russian barn

Question 3 of 20

What were the benefits of yurts for Central Asian nomads?

portability and ease of heating

Yurts were both easy to move and to heat, even in cold Mongolian winters, which can get as cold as almost 60 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

low resource usage and inexpensive

sturdy and easy to build

Question 4 of 20

Where did the American yurt resurgence begin?

Oregon

After yurts were first used at an Oregon campsite, they grew in popularity at campsites across the U.S.

Alaska

Wyoming

Question 5 of 20

What was the initial reason that led an Oregon campsite to install yurts?

budgetary concerns

While the yurts in Oregon may have come with added benefits, they were first used there due to their low cost.

rustic charm

low temperatures

Question 6 of 20

What is the Mongolians word for a yurt?

ger

Ger means "home" in Mongolian; yurt is the Russian name for it. Many Mongolians still live in these structures today.

khan

yurt

Question 7 of 20

What forms the skeleton of a yurt's walls?

wooden latticework

The lattice folds and unfolds like an accordion. This makes it easy to transport a yurt from place to place.

a bamboo cage

cured skins

Question 8 of 20

What piece of a yurt's structure gives it its extraordinary strength?

a tension cable around the frame

The tension cable runs around the entire yurt, which holds the latticework in its circular form.

cross bars through the center

the angled roof rafters

Question 9 of 20

What makes yurts able to withstand strong winds?

their shape

Since yurts are round, wind flows around them with little resistance. Buildings with straight walls can catch the wind and get blown away.

the material of their walls

their deep anchoring in the ground

Question 10 of 20

Out of what material did Mongolians traditionally make their yurts?

sheep's wool

By layering a number of woolen cloths, the Mongolians would be able to remove successive layers as it got warmer in spring.

animal skins

woven grass

Question 11 of 20

What was a drawback to the woolen felt that Mongolians used in their yurts?

It absorbed a lot of water.

The felt was fairly heavy to begin with, and could be even worse once it absorbed rain.

Wind could flow through it.

It was highly flammable.

Question 12 of 20

How tall are most yurts?

about 5 feet

a little over 6 feet

Though clearly not designed for tall people, yurts gain the benefit of being easier to heat due to their low roofs.

up to 8 feet

Question 13 of 20

What percentage of the internal space in a yurt can you use?

0.75

0.9

1

The reason that you can use all of the space between a yurts walls (or wall, to be more accurate) is that the structure requires no interior supports.

Question 14 of 20

What is different in Turkic yurts, compared to Mongolian ones?

They use bent poles that are both the walls and roof beams.

Although the core concepts underlying the yurt's engineering remains the same around the world, many cultures have adapted them slightly and changed certain elements.

They use less absorbent materials for the walls.

They are built for more permanent placement.

Question 15 of 20

What is the origin of the word "nomad?"

felt

The Mongolian farmers who first built yurts (or gers) were early nomads. The word comes from the material they built their homes out of.

Mongol

home

Question 16 of 20

In the yurts of Buddhist Mongolians, what side would hold the altar?

north

Buddhist Mongolians, the majority, sleep with their heads facing these altars. Muslims sleep with their heads aimed toward Mecca.

south

east

Question 17 of 20

According to tradition, what should you not do in a ger?

whistle

Other traditions include not stepping on the threshold, not pointing one's feet at the fire and drinking three glasses of distilled fermented mare's milk.

sing

clap

Question 18 of 20

About how many yurts are being used throughout North America?

2500

10000

Yurts made their first appearance in America in the 1960s. Today, sales are growing by 10% each year.

50000

Question 19 of 20

What amenities are options in modern yurts?

ceiling fans and gutters

The versatility and luxuriousness of contemporary yurts are amazing. However, as options increase, so does cost!

basements and windows

inner walls and retractable roofs

Question 20 of 20

What should you do when talking to a bank about a loan for a yurt?

not call it a yurt

There is no question that yurts are still unconventional, and fairly obscure. Underscoring the architect's contributions rather than the name or origin of the yurt may make it easier for you to get a loan.